O.C. football: Countdown to the Week 4 games

Even on the weekends, Carlos Arias bothers me. <br> Saturday night, I'm minding my own business, watching the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Canelo Alvarez-Josesito Lopez fight cards, and I get a text from Carlos &#8220;Loco&#8221; Arias asking if I'm down for something called the &#8220;Deathmatch Challenge.&#8221;<br> I ignored the text. <br> Then Sunday, while I'm at the gym, here comes another text asking, &#8220;Who would I take in Bolsa Grande vs. Ocean View?&#8221; My response: In what, tennis? He said, &#8220;Football Deathmatch.&#8221;<br> Eventually I said Ocean View, and as quick as Josesito Lopez got dropped repeatedly, I was hooked into this week's &#8220;OCVarsity Pickapalooza Deathmatch Challenge.&#8221;<br> Ocean View, you better not let me down. <br> Here is this week's Calhoun Countdown: <br> OCVARSITY.COM PHOTOS, TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

Check out OCVarsity.com's countdown to the O.C. high school football games for Week 4 of the season.

Even on the weekends, Carlos Arias bothers me.

Saturday night, I'm minding my own business, watching the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Canelo Alvarez-Josesito Lopez fight cards, and I get a text from Carlos "Loco" Arias asking if I'm down for something called the "Deathmatch Challenge."

I ignored the text.

Then Sunday, while I'm at the gym, here comes another text asking, "Who would I take in Bolsa Grande vs. Ocean View?" My response: In what, tennis? He said, "Football Deathmatch."

Eventually I said Ocean View, and as quick as Josesito Lopez got dropped repeatedly, I was hooked into this week's "OCVarsity Pickapalooza Deathmatch Challenge."

Ocean View, you better not let me down.

Here is this week's Calhoun Countdown:

10. The crowd is gaining on Jack McInally

Here is your weekly look at the passing touchdown race in the county. Jack McInally and Brethren Christian took the week off last week. McInally is the county leader with 18. While he was taking a break, the competition was lighting up the scoreboard. Nathan Cole (Aliso Niguel) had six TD passes in a 42-12 victory over Coronado. Conner Manning (El Toro) had five against Palos Verdes. Mason Dossey (Capistrano Valley) had four against Woodbridge. Now the standings look like this: 1. McInally (18), 2T. Cole and Manning (17), 4. Dossey (15). All four QBs are in play this week. Stay tuned folks. (And be sure to check out the OCVarsity Leaderboards.)

9. Spartans, are you ready?

Villa Park kicks off defense of its Century League title Thursday night against El Modena. The Spartans' only loss came against Edison on Sept. 6. In their three victories, the Spartans have allowed just 36 points -- and 21 of those came against Righetti in the first game of the year. Aside from the loss to Orange Lutheran, El Modena has been in all four of its games. The Vanguards were picked to finish near the bottom of the Century League. But I don't think they're going to an easy 'W' for anybody. There aren't any easy nights in the Century League, but there are some tough ones. El Modena has to face Villa Park and El Modena to start the season ... ouch.

Prediction: Villa Park, with a lot of Meki Tafuna running the ball, opens league with a victory.

8. Tillers out for revenge against the Mustangs

Yorba Linda caught everybody's eye when it pulled off a 14-12 upset victory over Tustin last season. Those two teams, along with Cypress, ended the season tied for the league title. This season, I don't think there is a third team that will challenge Tustin and Yorba Linda for the title. Both teams are 4-0 this season. Tustin is mowing down opponents. The Tillers are averaging 41.7 points a game. Terence Martinez and DaVonte Young lead the ground attack. Meanwhile, defense is where Yorba Linda thrives. Through four games, the Mustangs are allowing just 12.5 points. If they can contain the Tillers' ground attack, as they did last year, another victory could be in the cards. However, the way the Tillers are playing, I think they're going to be in serious payback mode.

Prediction: Tustin grounds out the victory.

7. Dossey primed to attack CdM

In one of the intriguing matchups of the week, Mason Dossey and the high-flying Capistrano Valley Cougars welcome Corona del Mar to town Friday night. If you're not aware, Dossey is one the county's top quarterbacks. He has passed for 1,229 yards and 15 touchdowns through four games. CdM let a victory slip away in last week's "Battle of the Bay" game against Newport Harbor. CdM led 23-14 in the third quarter, but Newport Harbor pulled out a 27-26 victory. Capistrano Valley has experienced its own disappointment. The Cougars led Esperanza, 21-6, early in the fourth quarter. At the end, Esperanza had a 27-21 victory. Can CdM slow down Capistrano Valley's aerial attack?

Even on the weekends, Carlos Arias bothers me. Saturday night, I'm minding my own business, watching the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Canelo Alvarez-Josesito Lopez fight cards, and I get a text from Carlos “Loco” Arias asking if I'm down for something called the “Deathmatch Challenge.” I ignored the text. Then Sunday, while I'm at the gym, here comes another text asking, “Who would I take in Bolsa Grande vs. Ocean View?” My response: In what, tennis? He said, “Football Deathmatch.” Eventually I said Ocean View, and as quick as Josesito Lopez got dropped repeatedly, I was hooked into this week's “OCVarsity Pickapalooza Deathmatch Challenge.” Ocean View, you better not let me down. Here is this week's Calhoun Countdown: OCVARSITY.COM PHOTOS, TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM10. The crowd is gaining on Jack McInally Here is your weekly look at the passing touchdown race in the county. Jack McInally and Brethren Christian took the week off last week. McInally is the county leader with 18. While he was taking a break, the competition was lighting up the scoreboard. Nathan Cole (Aliso Niguel) had six TD passes in a 42-12 victory over Coronado. Conner Manning (El Toro) had five against Palos Verdes. Mason Dossey (Capistrano Valley) had four against Woodbridge. Now the standings look like this: 1. McInally (18), 2T. Cole (pictured) and Manning (17), 4. Dossey (15). All four QBs are in play this week. Stay tuned folks. Be sure to check out the OCVarsity Leaderboards for all of the stat categories through the Week 3 games. OCVARSITY.COM PHOTO, TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM9. Spartans, are you ready? Villa Park kicks off defense of its Century League title Thursday night against El Modena. The Spartans' only loss came against Edison on Sept. 6. In their three victories, the Spartans have allowed just 36 points -- and 21 of those came against Righetti in the first game of the year. Aside from the loss to Orange Lutheran, El Modena has been in all four of its games. The Vanguards were picked to finish near the bottom of the Century League. But I don't think they're going to an easy ‘W' for anybody. There aren't any easy nights in the Century League, but there are some tough ones. El Modena has to face Villa Park and El Modena to start the season … ouch. Prediction: Villa Park, with a lot of Meki Tafuna running the ball, opens league with a victory. OCVARSITY.COM PHOTOS, TEXT BY STEVE FRYER, OCVARSITY.COM8. Tillers out for revenge against the Mustangs Yorba Linda caught everybody's eye when it pulled off a 14-12 upset victory over Tustin last season. Those two teams, along with Cypress, ended the season tied for the league title. This season, I don't think there is a third team that will challenge Tustin and Yorba Linda for the title. Both teams are 4-0 this season. Tustin is mowing down opponents. The Tillers are averaging 41.7 points a game. Terence Martinez and DaVonte Young lead the ground attack. Meanwhile, defense is where Yorba Linda thrives. Through four games, the Mustangs are allowing just 12.5 points. If they can contain the Tillers' ground attack, as they did last year, another victory could be in the cards. However, the way the Tillers are playing, I think they're going to be in serious payback mode. Prediction: Tustin grounds out the victory. OCVARSITY.COM PHOTOS, TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM7. Dossey primed to attack CdM In one of the intriguing matchups of the week, Mason Dossey and the high-flying Capistrano Valley Cougars welcome Corona del Mar to town Friday night. If you're not aware, Dossey is one the county's top quarterbacks. He has passed for 1,229 yards and 15 touchdowns through four games. CdM let a victory slip away in last week's “Battle of the Bay” game against Newport Harbor. CdM led 23-14 in the third quarter, but Newport Harbor pulled out a 27-26 victory. Capistrano Valley has experienced its own disappointment. The Cougars led Esperanza, 21-6, early in the fourth quarter. At the end, Esperanza had a 27-21 victory. Can CdM slow down Capistrano Valley's aerial attack? Prediction: Dossey leads Capistrano Valley to victory. OCVARSITY.COM PHOTOS, TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM6. Is Servite still a top-10 team? More importantly, will the Friars be in the top 10 after Friday's game. Servite is off to a 1-2 start and could be 0-3 if it wasn't for its second-half comeback against Rancho Cucamonga in Week 1. Despite that, Servite is still ranked in the county's top 10. (I'm partly to blame. I voted the Friars seventh in my top 10.) Now will the Friars start playing like a top-10 team? This week, the Friars will be host to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. The Gaels are ranked 19th in the nation by ESPN Today. Will Servite be able to get things on the right track? The Friars have this game and a visit to St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs before the start of Trinity League play. They open league play with Santa Margarita. Now would be a good time to get things turned around. Will it happen this week? Prediction: Bishop Gorman pulls out the victory. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, FOR THE REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM 5. San Clemente still on the road Fresh off of last week's road victory over La Costa Canyon, San Clemente is on the road again, heading over to Newport Harbor to meet the Sailors. So guess which OCVarsity reporter will not be in the Tritons' press box this week. That's right, Carlos Arias, the unofficial San Clemente home game beat reporter for OCVarsity. (San Clemente returns home next week. Somebody should try to block Arias from getting that game.) As for this week's action, Newport Harbor is coming off of a big victory over rival Corona del Mar. Cole Norris passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Tala Teaupa rushed for 237 yards. San Clemente is 4-0. The Tritons have been impressive on defense, allowing just 7.5 points a game. I'm close to becoming a believer in the Tritons. Prediction: Look for San Clemente to go 5-0. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM 4. Can anybody slow down the Santa Margarita Express? The Eagles are a record-setting machine. They've been rewriting the school record book for a couple of years now, but this year they've taken it to a new level. It is mind-boggling to think about what they're doing. And poor Carson. Last week, the Eagles dropped 72 points, including 65 by halftime, on the Colts. The Eagles have outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 127-0. Last week, Ryan Wolpin delivered a whoopin', scoring six touchdowns … of course it is a school record. Through four games, the Eagles are outscoring opponents by a combined 189-20. This week the Eagles face their toughest test to date: St. Bonaventure of Ventura. The Seraphs are 4-0. They scored 56 in their last game and are ranked 29th in the nation by MaxPreps. Can St. Bonaventure contain the Santa Margarita Express? Prediction: Santa Margarita rolls along. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM 3. Green Wave pulls the upset of the year Edison got a lot of attention when it shut down and shut out Servite last week, 6-0. That's the perfect way for Edison to begin its gauntlet run. Elijah Herrera and Donald Rice both went over 100 yards on the ground and helped the lead the way on defense. Edison is prepping for challenge No. 2: taking on Mater Dei at Orange Coast College on Friday. Look for the same recipe from Edison: strong running game and swarming defense. Will Mater Dei be victim No. 2 for the Chargers? KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM2. Monarch Nation looking to go 4-0 I'm impressed with how things are going for the Monarchs through three games. However, there's no time to rest. Edison is calling this week and Narbonne of Harbor City next week. What a tough stretch for the Monarchs. But you know Coach Bruce Rollinson will have them fired up. If you haven't seen Mater Dei this year, you're missing a team that's making big plays. Take a look at what they did last week: Jordan Allen 50-yard run; Jameson Field and Austin Lenzkes blocked punts; Treavon Coley intercepted a pass; the defense recorded four sacks. The Monarchs have already recorded eight interceptions this season. Prediction: Mater Dei survives Edison to go to 4-0. CHRISTINE COTTER, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM 1. My pick for the O.C. player to watch this week is … Elijah Herrera, Edison. Herrera played a key role on both sides of the ball in last week's victory over Servite. What can he do for an encore against Mater Dei? KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER; TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

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